Summer 2008

From Phil Chinnery, Newsletter Editor. As this newsletter was being put together Les found himself carried off to hospital and although he is now on the mend I have decided to hold over any association news until the next issue. I am sure you will all join me in wishing Les all the best and a speedy recovery.

NEW MEMBERS. We would like to welcome the following new members to the association: Mr George Kent in South Africa who served with 140^th Field Regiment RA and was a resident of Stalag 20A Thorn and Graudenz, Poland. Associate members. Mr John Pateman whose father was resident in Stalag 11A. Captain H H S Spry-Leverton. Mr Peter Green whose father was resident in Oflag 9A/Z.

DONATIONS. We would like to thank the following for their kind donations to the welfare fund; Tom Burling £100, William Crighton £10, R Dowding £5, Adrian Gilbert £10, P A F Liddle £5, Stewart Miskimmin £10, Bernard Warren £10, Barbara Watson £30. MEMORIAL FUND LATE DONATION Adrian Gilbert £100.

OBITUARIES. We regret to report the passing away of Arthur H. J. Pill in London, Ontario, Canada. He survived 4 years as a POW in Africa, Italy and Germany. Apparently he had 3 escapes: first, in Libya, next in Macerata, Italy and the last from the Russians in Riesa, East Germany. After the war, he immigrated to Canada, and taught industrial arts at a local high school for 26 years, and then retired to the cottage community where he passed away on February 26, 2006. We will remember him.

REUNION UPDATE. Places are still available for the annual reunion at Lakeside, Hayling Island October 3^rd to October 6^th 2008. The costs are £160.00 for a single person and £290.00 for a couple. If anyone requires a booking form please phone Mrs Freda Moores on 01628 473832. Unfortunately this might be the last reunion due to falling numbers and increased prices so phone for your booking form now.

Membership Renewal. It is also that time of year when we remind members that their annual subscription due was due on 1^st January. The cost is £5 for former prisoners of war and £10 for family and friends and for former POWs living overseas. We have managed to keep the subscription to this amount for eight years now. Please make cheques out to NEXPOWA and send to Les Allan, 99 Parlaunt Road, Langley, Berkshire SL3 8BE. For enquiries please ring or fax Les on 01753-818308. Members will receive four quarterly newsletters each year. If anyone would like any back issues of the newsletter please contact Phil Chinnery who still has stocks of most of them.

In 1942 Maurice Newey was a POW in Campo 54 Fara Sabina in the Sabine hills north of Rome. At Christmas he and his comrades received a booklet from the then Pope, Pius pp X11. His Christmas message read as follows; “May the Lord grant this message to the prisoners of war of every nation, whom adversity has made doubly dear to Us. The longer and more painful the separation from their country and dear ones, the deeper the fear within their hearts. At this Holy Season of Christmas, Our prayers are still more fervent, and on them and their families, We call down Gods dearest blessings.”

Maurice carried the booklet from Italy to Germany, from Upper Silesia on the long march to Munich, before returning home. It was in a rather bedraggled state when he handed it in to the Imperial War Museum, together with his memoirs. They took great pains to clean it up and he was grateful to Rod Suddaby for allowing his daughter to take the photos in this newsletter. The cover can be seen on the back page. The dark splodge on the photograph below was a Christmas greetings sticker from a Red Cross parcel.

Coincidentally we were also contacted by the son of a former prisoner of war who was in possession of his fathers copy of the Popes diary, so we have decided to combine Maurices photographs of the diary and the entries made by David Jenkins in his copy. Not long after Maurice sent the photographs in, Brian Jenkins from Rockingham City, Washington, USA contacted me to say “I inherited a small quantity of manuscript material from my late father who was a WWII POW. I'm sure it will hold at least some interest for you, if only to confirm events you already know about, and to provide additional insight on the reactions of an ordinary soldier to the rigors of captivity. I therefore append my transcription for your information. My father, a Welsh lad from the Rhondda, enlisted in the Royal Horse Artillery in 1930 at age 20. He served 3 years, receiving training in signals, and was called up as a reservist in 1939. He was initially involved in recruit-training and was stationed at Scarborough, Yorks, at the time of my own birth in 1940. Soon after, he was shipped to join the North Africa campaign and was taken prisoner at the fall of Tobruk, 21 June 1942. If it is of interest to the association, I can also supply some three dozen names and wartime addresses of associates found in a notebook which my father used during his progression from Fara Sabina to Moosburg, Berlin, Lamsdorf and Krakow. Some are in South Africa and New Zealand.”

The following record was written in a 6mo (15 x 10 cm) calendar memo booklet entitled Christmas 1942, a gift of Pope Pius XII. The booklet comprises 24 leaves or 48 pages plus cardboard cover. Pages 26 to 48 contain a printed selection of carols and occasional hymns.

Page 1 (Flyleaf) This is the property of:- Gunner David John Jenkins 802913. Presented by his holiness the Pope of Rome, Christmas 1942. At prisoner of war Camp N^o 54, situated at Fara Sabina, 35 Kilos from Rome. Poste Militaire. ITALIA. 3300.

Page 2 (Calendar for JANUARY, 1943) Monday January 11^th:- Little David’s birthday, 6 years old. May it be a very happy one for him. “MANY HAPPY RETURNS” FROM DADDY. Jan 27^th:- My Mothers oldest brother died 1929. Uncle John was a good man and a real Christian.

Page 3 (Memorandum page) Friday the first. Most of the lads are ill through drinking Italian stew, which is known as “Swill” to us P.O.Ws. It consists of rotten cabbage and turnips, sometimes a kind of tomato puree is added. I spend the first three days laid up, violently sick. The Italian ration of food is very small, and we are kept in a semi starved condition. But we are used to starvation after eight months prisoners. Nobody but P.O.Ws. realise the nights we cannot sleep through hunger pains and “black-outs”, also cold through lack of blankets. Our bodies are scratched and bleeding, caused through “lice” which we have had all the time we have been in Italy, and no matter how hard ...

Page 4 (Calendar for FEBRUARY, 1943) Page 5 (Memorandum page) .....we try we cannot get rid of them. None of us have experienced the luxury of a hot bath. We are convinced the Italians don’t know the meaning of the word. Cold showers are our only means of cleanliness. The winter has been very cold and severe, the Appenines are very bleak looking with their snow-capped peaks, they are only a short distance away, and we face them twice every day as we line up for roll-call. Our bedding consists of a thin mattress of straw, which has turned nearly into a powder through continuous usage, also two thin blankets, for a little while we enjoyed sheets, but our noble friends the Italians withdrew them as reprisals.

Page 6 (Calendar for MARCH, 1943) Friday March 12^th 1943. Received parcel of 120 cigarettes from regimental funds. This is a good month. Wednesday March 17^th. Received parcel of 200 Woodbines from Bleanclydach (sic) P.O.W. Funds. “Iti’s” jealous of us, kept us all waiting in the pouring rain, lot of cigarettes ruined through them. Must write and thank P.O.W. Fund for cigarettes next card issue.

Page 7 (Memorandum page) Today is Saturday March 27^th. Yesterday one of our lads was buried, died here in this prison camp. Attended the burial service at the gate. Our lads have vivid red patches on all clothes, more Italian reprisals. Starvation diet, thank God for the little we receive from Red Cross. Cant sleep at night through hunger pains. quite a lot of illness among us, all are weak, its an effort to walk about. Everyone is inoculated T.A.B. Some of us have refused (myself included) in too weak a condition to be a pin cushion. Strong rumour “Tunisia” has fallen, hope so anyway. The feeling is “let’s get it over” and get out of this lousy country. Only we know the hardships the human body can stand. Sunday March 28. Received parcel of 200 Players cigarettes from John Wilson. Am very grateful, and smoking like a chimney these days.

Page 8 (Calendar for APRIL, 1943) Monday April 12^th:- Little Trefor’s Birthday. 4 years old today. “MANY HAPPY RETURNS” from Daddy. Friday April 30^th:- My Jeanie’s Birthday, “MANY HAPPY RETURNS” Sweetheart. May the next we celebrate together.

Page 9 (Memorandum page) Today is Sunday April 11^th. “Iti’s” are very windy of some of us making a break for it. Wire found cut, besides the outside guards, they have patrols and flying piquet’s both inside and outside the wire. They pounce on different tents at random each day, and go through what little kit we have, with a fine comb. Rumour still persistent Tunisia has fallen, most of us believe it true now. Had photo’s taken last week, one single, the other a group of 20. April 12^th:- My little boys birthday, 4 years old today. April 16^th:- “Skunk” caught giving information to the enemy, gave them all particulars regarding breaks, etc, nearly killed him and threw him down latrine pit, another terrible beating at night, still unconscious, Londoner named “Hodges” Unit R.A. Dr Grey sent to punishment camp. Thursday April 22^nd. Received parcel of 200 Players from Jean,
just in time, no cigs left. Thursday April 22^nd. Received 200 Woodbine cigarettes from Blaenclydach P.O.W. funds. Second parcel from them, very grateful. Must write to thank them. April 30^thmy Jean’s birthday, hope it is as happy as possible. Today my thoughts are all of home, and family.

Page 10 (Calendar for MAY, 1943) May 17^th1919. Uncle Dai died. Killed by horse near Lampeter. Served throughout Great War for 4 ½ years. My father’s youngest brother, a grand fellow, aged 32 years when killed. Sunday May 16^th:- Our bombers over Rome, one flew very low over our tent, Italians in a panic, guards doubled, etc. This is indeed a tonic to us.

Page 11 (Memorandum page) Yesterday “Iti’s” searched my kit very thoroughly, within an ace of being caught, was it exciting! Been fairly rough for the past fortnight, severe pains in head and chest, two days in bed. Lice are awful here now, also fleas. May 7^th, my uncle’s death 1919, always remembered. Nearly a year P.O.W. and not yet had a word from my youngest brother, he could at least write a few words. Sunday May 16^th:- Our bombers over Rome, grand time watching the raid, lads all happy and smiling, quite a tonic to us P.O.Ws. Tuesday May 18^th. Received parcel of 200 Woodbines from Blaenclydach P.O.W. funds. This is the third parcel from them. Very grateful. May 28^th:- Our bombers are giving “hell” to Italian Towns and Cities, now that the enemy have been driven out of Africa. Food is scarce, and we live entirely on Red Cross parcels, we don’t think war can last much longer for these people. We get very little mail from home these days.

Page 12 (Calendar for JUNE, 1943) June 12^th:- Little Brian’s Birthday 3 years old, ”Many Happy returns of the day” from Daddy. June 21^st:- Twelve months Prisoner of war, fall of Tobruk and the start of all our misery.

Page 13 (Memorandum page) Sunday June 6^th:- Joined a choir, which is a huge success at the concerts. Craze for cricket, everyone represented. Home made bats and balls made out of any old material. Pope appeals for more humane methods concerning air raids on civilian population. Americans using negro’s as pilots. Saturday June 12^th:- My little Brian’s birthday, 3 years old today, ”Many Happy Returns of the day” from “Daddy”. “Iti’s” stole 14 cartons of our Cigarettes. They are starving us, no vegetables for over a week. Thank God for the British Red Cross parcels, or we would all be dead by this time. Big raids on Iti towns and cities. June 15^th Pantellera fallen, lads all happy at this news, more heavy air raids by us. Still no vegetables from “Iti’s”, looks as if they haven’t got any for their own needs. Bugs reported in Tent 16A. Fleas are terrible, no sleep at nights now through them.

Page 14 (Calendar for JULY, 1943) July 10^th:- Sicily invaded, best news yet, thousands of planes and ponderous naval forces. Are we glad to hear such grand news. July 19^th:- Rome heavily raided, heavy casualties, and big fires visible from our camp. We see our own planes, and hear our own bombs. Iti’s are panic stricken, leaflets are dropped, many on this camp. July 25^th:- Mussolini’s government overthrown, riots in Rome and all over Italy. Iti’s tell us war will soon be over.

Page 15 (Memorandum page) July 1^st:- “Iti’s” are expecting our armies to invade Italy very soon, they say we have six armies waiting to invade. “Iti’s” issue us with onions (about four each) also small amount of plums and peaches. They are in a bad way for food themselves. July 10^th:- The greatest day and the best of news for us, Sicily invaded, we use thousands of planes and ponderous naval forces, to quote the “Iti’s” themselves. Italian sentries desert their posts while on sentry-go. Gloom is everywhere except in P.O.W. Camps, where we are all in high spirits, because we know our lads will soon be here to release us. Quite a lot of our lads have been making breaks for it, but nearly all get caught, plenty of “Iti’s” firing at two of our lads in the other pen, didn’t hit them, caught. Monday July 19^th:- We watch our planes bomb Rome, it’s a tonic. heavy casualties. “Iti’s” blame Mr Eden for this raid. July 22^ndRome still burning, grand sight to us. Sunday July 25^th:- Musso’s Government overthrown. Riots in Rome and all over the country. Saturday July 24^th. Received parcel of 200 Sunripe cigarettes from R&J Hill Ltd, 66 Great Eastern Street, London E.C.2. More than likely the first parcel of Sunripe came from them too—May 10^th. Very thankful,--no smokes.

Page 16 (Calendar for AUGUST, 1943). Tuesday August 10^th. Received parcel of 200 Players cigarettes, nothing to denote the identity of sender. Very grateful. August 15^th:- My Father’s birthday, also my brother Dan’s, August 1^st:- Our wedding anniversary, hope to be home to celebrate it. Friday August 13^th:- Rome heavily bombed for the second time:- we watch American bombers fly low over our camp escorted by two engined Lockheed Lightning fighters. Very heavy casualties and damage, we are all very excited and happy. Wednesday August 19^th:- Sicily finished off, now for the fun to start. August 24^th:- Berlin gets biggest Air Raid yet, over 2,500 tons of bombs dropped, heavy casualties. Tuesday August 24^th. Received parcel of 200 Sunripe cigarettes from R&J Hill, permit No. P.W. 590. No cigs left, smoking like a chimney.

Page 17 (Memorandum page). August 1^st:- Our wedding anniversary, hope Jean and the children celebrate it right royally, this is the third spent apart. 1941 in Atlantic Ocean, 1942 in P.O.W. camp Italy, 1943 Italy. Friday August 13^th:- we watch Rome getting bombed for the second time, very heavy casualties American bombers fly very low over our camp escorted by Lockheed lightning fighters, its a fair treat to watch them, and we hope the pilots can see our cheerful faces, and see us waving our hands. Wednesday August 19^th:- Sicily finished, they took a big hiding, speech by Badoglio “Italians stand firm”. Ha, Ha, my oath. Hardly any mail from home these days, weather very hot. Big conference between United Nations at Quebec, Italians are very shaky now. They know what to expect shortly. Tuesday 24^th:- Berlin gets biggest air raid yet, over 2,500 tons of bombs dropped on city, very heavy casualties. Italians declare Rome as an open city.

Page 18 (Calendar for SEPTEMBER, 1943) September 3^rd 1939:- Outbreak of war, and the world plunged into death and misery [Here there is a change from ink to pencilled writing] Sept 8^th: Italy signs peace treaty. Sept 10^th We are released to roam the mountains. 23^rd Sept. One mate killed, close thing for me. Sept 28^th another close shave while crossing road.

Page 19 (Memorandum page) Sept 10^th escape from Camp 54, make for Carissa Terra, small village 3 kilo’s away. Sept 23^rd, boy of 15 gives us away, Germans come down to our cave, everybody escapes into the bush, Kemp, Jones, Sanders taken prisoner. Close thing for me. Germans pass within a few feet searching for us. This goes on for over an hour. Quinn and Stobart are shot Stobart dies immediately, Quinn dies later. I make for cave to get some kit under cover of darkness. Gets in alright, but coming out Jerry opens up with Tommy gun, mad scramble to get under cover again. Walks through that night miserable and alone. Sept 25^th meets Whitehouse and Mel Jenkins who were with me in cave, are we glad to see each other again.

Page 20 (Calendar for OCTOBER, 1943) The box for Oct 26 has a special heavy cancellation and the letters ‘C M’. The papal text on the page has an ironic ring about its message:

A Christian, who faithfully and bravely fights
for his country, must, nevertheless, refrain from
hating those against whom it is his duty to fight.

Page 21 (Memorandum page) we get some macaroni and vino from an old woman, and sleep that night with a donkey for company. At four o’clock we strike for the Town of Fara Sabina, we nearly get caught again crossing road where a Jerry car has pulled up. German officer gets out with revolver in hand. Mad scramble but we get clear. We don’t stop until we climb mountain to Town. Sept 26^th, we meet four Italians from Fara Sabina who are in hiding themselves, they return to town at night and bring us some food, for which we are grateful. They urge us to stay, saying the English would be there soon, we sleep in some old hay with a thatched roof over us, but its not rain proof, that night we are soaked to ...

Page 22 (Calendar for NOVEMBER, 1943). My Dear Mother’s birthday, November 4^th.(Calendar for DECEMBER, 1943) December 3^rd:- My own Birthday December 8^th:- My brother Trevor’s Birthday.

Page 23 (Memorandum page) ...the skin, but we stay near Fara Sabina for a week. October 2^nd we decide to push on, we walk all through that day keeping to the mountain, the roads are too dangerous, we walk on through the best part of the night until we are too exhausted to go any further, its raining heavily, but we get under a rock and fall asleep. But I keep waking up at intervals caused through pain in thumb which has turned septic, the nail is off, and I have nothing to put on it, we are on the move again before day breaks, lump like egg under arm. Boots are very bad, we also discard our Uniform for old civilian clothes. We keep on the march for a week, climbing mountain after mountain, and eventually come to a village called Orvinio. The people here are very friendly and urge us to stay. They take pity on us and give us food and wine. We sleep in an old cow shed about three kilo’s away, because Jerry has two hundred soldiers stationed there, also a canning factory. Next morning we push on, but cannot get past Vallinfreda, too many Jerry’s there. We sleep on mountain that night, and return to Orvinio the next morning. The Italian civilians urge us to stay put, saying our lads would soon be there, why should we take all these risks, etc, anyway we stop at Orvinio, and move in closer to village, we sleep in a little grass roofed tool shed, bad weather has now set in, and we are in a bad state. Boots nearly finished, no overcoats, no hot drinks, and nothing to smoke.

[Here the papal-notebook record ends but we know that Gunner Jenkins was eventually recaptured and sent to Stalag VII/A, a large transit camp near Munich, from which his identity tags survived the years and remain in the family’s possession.] Later notes in small notebook:

Wednesday May 25^th [1944]. Received parcel of 200 cigarettes (Sunripe) from R.&J. Hill, Permit No. P.W. 590. No smokes—very grateful. Munich working camp, Bavaria, Germany.

Monday July 3^rd. Received parcel of 200 Sunripe cigarettes from R.&J. Hill, Permit No.—parcel No. 237. Old one from P.G. 54 Italy. Am now near the Polish frontier, Stalag 344.

Friday Nov 10^th. Received 200 Players from Bond [?] St Liverpool A.T.C. From Stalag 7A. (Now in Upper Silesia).

In reminiscing before his death in Mittagong, Australia, in 1995, David John Jenkins recalled having escaped in 1945 with two companions from a camp near Krakow, Poland. They were found, interrogated and liberated by a unit commander of the Red Army near Prague.

If you are able to assist please contact the advertiser directly or via Phil Chinnery, address in Historians section.

Dear Mr Chinnery, I am trying to trace 6287788 L/Cpl Ronald Venus who was in Camp No. 6825, Stalag XX A (B) from 1940/1941. My mother was put in contact with him through the British Prisoners of War Books and Games Fund and wrote to him regularly throughout the War. She has recently gone into a Nursing Home and in clearing out her house I have found all his letters to her. I should like to be able to return them to him or his family. I can be contacted by e-mail at lenamay@gmail.com With thanks, Helena Pook.

Hello, I am trying to find out the regiment in which my uncle, William Lambert, served in WW2. It is for a story I am writing about my uncle's death during the war. He hailed from Malvern, Worcestershire and survived Dunkirk. After home leave in 1941, he went to Italy, where we believe he died trying to escape from a POW camp. Is there a way I can at least find out his regiment? All living relatives at the time have died. Also, is there a way to find out what was in the telegram his mother (my grandmother) received (are there records)? I know she received a telegram but that has gone, too. Sincerely, Bill Hawkins, KING'S ROAD Consulting, 241 South 6th Street, Suite 1001, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA. Marketing & Communications, Tel 215-592-8734, Fax 215-928-1924, email kingsroadconsult@aol.com

Mr John Pateman, 11 Windsor Close, Sleaford, Lincolnshire NG34 7NL is looking for information about his father Arthur Frederick Pateman, who was Private 6344167 in the 2^nd West Kent Regiment. Enlisted in 1937 he served in Palestine 1938-39 and Malta 1939-43 and Samos/Leros where he was taken prisoner in November 1943. He was POW 141278 at Stalag 11A Altengrabow, Brandenburg. He is interested in hearing from anyone who knew his father or who served in the Royal West Kents in those countries or who spent time in Stalag 11A.

Mr Peter Green, 7 Prospect Hill, Old Town, Swindon SN1 3JU is researching the march from Oflag 9A/Z to the West in March and April 1945. His father was a resident of the camp. He has the diaries of several of the marchers and photographs taken by a New Zealand prisoner but would like to hear from anyone else who may have taken part in the march or been resident in that camp.

In Dec. '44 I was held briefly as an American POW at Dulag XIB. Most of the other prisoners were from the Commonwealth. At a nearby compound, there were also French or Belgian POWs. One night I heard a British accent ask, "And what will you tell your son you did in the War"? An answer came promptly, "I marched with Monty at El Alamein!" I am proud to have been, even briefly, in the company of such people. (My Division was attached to the British Second Army.) I would like to find out what befell those at Dulag XIB in late 1944 and early 1945 when they drop off my radar screen as the Russians came through. What did happen to those Commonwealth troops? Thanks. John M. Ryan johnryan4@earthlink.net 340 Carolina Meadows, Villa Chapel Hill, NC 27517, USA. From the Dulag, I was shipped to Stalag IIA and thence to Komando 64/VI.

Dear Mr Chinnery, I am looking for the Brothers of my Mother, both of whom were POW's in WWII. I have very little information about them except for the following: John Charles Smith (Jack) - Born 09/10/1914 Edinburgh, Scotland, a POW of the Japanese and Arthur Henry Marindin Smith - Born 03/07/1918 Edinburgh, Scotland, POW No. Y266, Orderlies Battalion, Stalag Luft III, Germany. If you have any information on either of these gentlemen, it would be greatly appreciated. My Mother immigrated to Canada after the war to be with my Father who was a Canadian Air Force Pilot. Dad had been seconded to the RAF at the beginning of the war then back to the RCAF towards the end. Dad was shot down three times before they medically discharged him back to Canada. Mum left England before either one of her brothers returned. For some unknown reason, we never knew this part of our family and no encouragement was given to find them. Thank you for your assistance in this matter. Yours sincerely, Mary Casey-Marshall, Leconfield, Walgett, New South Wales, Australia 2832. mcaseymarshall@gmail.com

I am researching my father's movements during World War 2, and I would value any guidance you can give me in tracing his movements. He was Frank George Turner, service number T 179769. He was a Lance Corporal in the Royal Army Service Corps. He enlisted in April 1940, and was reported missing in Malaya on 15 February 1942. He was known to be in Japanese hands, but nothing more was known until he returned home on the S.S. Sobieski in November 1945. My father died twenty years ago, and my elderly mother knows little more than he was in Changi in Singapore at some stage, and he was also in Malaya and Thailand. I am very keen to learn more of his whereabouts during the war and, if possible, visit the locations where he was held and worked. I have obtained his records from the Army Personnel centre in Glasgow, but there is no information in his records other than dates. With thanks Brian Turner, Lilacs, Stanway Green, Colchester, Essex CO3 0RA. Tel 01206-331888.

ASSOCIATION ARCHIVES. We are always looking for stories, anecdotes, photographs or other interesting items for our newsletter. We also have our own archives where we can store prisoner of war related items such as manuscripts, books, photographs etc. If you have any such items lying around gathering dust and you would like us to keep them safe or use them in the newsletter, please send them to Phil Chinnery, Newsletter Editor and Association Historian, at 59 Pinkwell Lane, Hayes, Middlesex UB3 1PJ. In the event that the Association ever closes down (and it is highly unlikely at the moment!) the archives will be passed to the Imperial War Museum. On the other hand if anyone wins the lottery I would be pleased to discuss our plans for our own Prisoner of War Museum housed perhaps inside a replica prisoner of war camp…….

Spummer 2008 Newsletter